Impatiens plant named `Didi Salmon`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant, and named `Didi Salmon` is provided. `Didi Salmon` is distinct in its salmon colored fully double flowers, its early and free flowering, and its basal branched, compact growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Didi Salmon`, and is characterized by the following combinations of repeatedly observed traits:

1. Fully double flowers,

2. early flowering,

3. compact basal branching, and

4. free flowering.

Asexual reproduction of this cultivar by stem cuttings taken during November, 1996, at Andijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation, such reproduction establishing that the plant does in fact maintain the characteristics described in successive generations. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was an Impatiens walleriana named IM-795-3 (unpatented) and the male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was an Impatiens walleriana named IN-1791-1 (unpatented). The cross was made in 1995 and the seedling was selected in 1996.

This new cultivar has been identified as Impatiens `Didi Salmon`. The new cultivar is being marketed under the trademark name Double Diamond Salmon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawings in full color, the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of typical plants of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 shows buds and the upper and lower sides of flower and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown outside in the field in Andijk, The Netherlands. Measurements were recorded in August, 1997, on plants approximately 14 weeks old. Fully developed organs were used for measurements and color descriptions, unless otherwise indicated. Color references are made to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary signifiance are used.

`Didi Salmon` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment and horticultural practices, such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilization and propagation procedure, without any change in genotype.

Parentage:

Female parent.--Impatiens walleriana IM-795-3 (unpatented).

Male parent.--Impatiens walleriana IN-1791-1 (unpatented).

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Stem (internodal) cutting with two nodes and attached leaves.

Time to initiate roots.--10-14 days at 70-75 degrees F with a fully developed root mass at 21 days.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous, branching, adventitious root system.

Plant description:

Form.--Upright.

Growth habit.--Upright branching plant habit with upper leaves and flowers produced in whorls. When grown in a 4 inch pot for 10-12 weeks the height is approximatley 4-5 inches and the width is approximately 5 inches.

Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaf arrangement is alternate with upper leaves arranged in whorls of 5. Leaf shape is ovate with acute apex and obtuse to cordate base. Leaf size is 4.5 cm × 3 cm. Leaf margin is crenate with ciliation. Leaf surface is glabrous. Leaf color is green. The upper surface is yellow-green group 147A. Under surface is yellow-green group 147B with greyed-purple mottling ranging from 182A to 182C through 183D. Venation is pinnate 147A for the upper surface and 147B for the lower surface.

Petiole.--Petiole length is 2 cm; and diameter is 0.2 cm; Color is yellow-green 147C.

Flower description:

Flowering Habit.--Rooted cutting to full flowering plant in seven weeks. Indeterminate, flowering continuously. Flowers develop in the upper leaf axils.

Natural flowering season.--Flowers continuously throughout the year.

Flowers borne.--On pedicels which are yellow-green 145A and 3 cm long in clusters of 2-7 flowers with a peduncle color of yellow-green 145A and length of 2 cm long.

Spur.--Short spurred; length is 3.5 cm; color is 145C.

Buds.--Buds are oval-shaped; initially 145B in color; just before opening, reddish 50B in color; bud size is 1.5 cm × 1.1 cm.

Quantity of flowers.--Floriferous. Each axillary cluster of 2-7 flowers developing progressively from the leaf whorls so that buds as well as mature flowers are visible at the same time in large numbers.

Petals.--Number of petals 20-25, with all petals overlapping. Outer petals average 2.5 cm length × 2.0 cm width and inner petals average 1.5 cm length × 1.0 cm width. All petals are slightly cupped.

Flower color.--Upper surface: Red group 40A. Lower surface: Red group 43D.

Flower size.--Approximately 4 cm wide and 4 cm long.

Reproductive organs.--No reproductive organs.

Disease and insect resistance

No known suscepibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

Comparison with the known cultivars

When `Didi Salmon` is compared to Impatiens `Fiesta Salsa Sunrise Salmon` (unpatented), it is found that `Didi Salmon` exhibits a more vigorous plant habit and is also more floriferous.

When `Didi Salmon` is compared to `IM-795-3` and `IN-1791-1`, the parental cultivars, the instant cultivar has double flowers and the parental cultivars are both single flowering. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named `Didi Salmon`, substantially as described and illustrated herein, characterized particularly as to novelty by its fully double salmon colored flowers, its early and free flowering, and its basal branched, compact growth habit. 